Name:____________________________________ Block:______________

Unit 5: Momentum and Collisions

Lesson 5.1: Momentum and Impulse (slides 1-20)

Warm-Up:
What is inertia? Which of Newton’s Laws is related to What is momentum? When do you have the most
inertia? momentum?

Objective: Students will be able to

1.​ Define momentum as the product of mass and velocity and calculate momentum in one-dimensional
situations.
2.​ Explain how increasing contact time reduces the force experienced during a collision.

Big Idea: Momentum is conserved for all collisions as long as external forces don’t interfere.

Momentum
-​ The concept of inertia was introduced and developed both in terms of objects at rest and objects in
motion. In this chapter we are concerned only with the concept of inertia in
motion—_________________.
-​ A moving object can have a large momentum if it has a large ______, a high _________, or both.
-​ Can you think of some examples?

-​ Which is more difficult to stop? A large truck or a small car if they are both moving at the same speed?

-​ The truck has more momentum than the car. By momentum, we mean inertia in motion.

-​ Momentum is the _________ of an object multiplied by its _______________.

-​ p = mv
-​ (momentum = mass × velocity)
-​ Momentum has the units of kgᐧm/s. It is also a _________ quantity.

-​ Can you think of a case where a mouse and the elephant would have the same momentum?

-​ Practice Problems:
A 2250 kg truck has a velocity of 25m/s. What is When the speed of an object is doubled, its
the momentum? momentum
a.​ remains unchanged in accord with the
conservation of momentum.
b.​ doubles.
c.​ quadruples.
d.​ decreases.
Stacked Ball Drop Momentum Video
Video Questions:
1.​ How high did the golf ball bounce in the stacked ball drop?

2.​ Where does the tennis ball get its extra energy when bounced on top of the basketball?

3.​ The stacked ball drop is similar to double bouncing on the _______________.

4.​ When does the basketball (the bottom ball) bounce the highest? When it's bounced alone, with the
bouncey ball, or with bouncey and golf ball?

5.​ What else is the stacked ball drop similar to?

Impulse Changes Momentum

-​ The change in momentum depends on the ___________ that acts and the _________ of time it acts.
-​ The quantity force (N) × time interval (s) is called ______________.
-​ Impulse = F × ∆t
-​ Impulse has the units of ____________________ (Ns).
-​ The units of momentum are kilogram-meter per second. These are secretly the same unit,
since a Newton is equivalent to a kilogram-meter per second squared (from Newton’s Second
Law, Fnet=ma)! See below:
-​ N = kg*m/s2
-​ Ns = N*s = (kg*m/s2)*s
-​ The numerator unit of seconds (s) cancels out with one second in the seconds-squared
in the denominator, leaving kg*m/s.
-​ These are the units of momentum!

-​ The greater the ___________ (by increasing force or time) exerted on something, the greater will be
the change in __________.
-​ impulse = change in momentum
-​ F∆t = m∆v
-​ F∆t = m(vf–vi )

-​ When you push with the _______ force for _________ the time, you impart _________ the impulse
and produce ___________ the change in momentum.

-​
If the change in momentum occurs over a
______ time, the force of impact is
_________.

If the change in momentum occurs over a

_________ time, the force of impact is
_________.
 -​ CQ: The impulse-momentum relationship is a direct result of Newton’s
A.​ law of gravity.
B.​ first law.
C.​ second law.
D.​ third law.

-​ The impulse provided by a boxer’s jaw counteracts

the momentum of the punch.
a. The boxer moves away from the punch.
b. The boxer moves toward the punch. Ouch!

The Science Behind Airbags

1.​ What is the name of the device that detects crashes in cars?

2.​ What is the name of the chemical found in airbags?

3.​ The airbag is there to ______ you down more quickly than the steering wheel would.

4.​ How quickly does the air bag inflate?

5.​ Overall, how does an airbag aid you in an accident?

Belted vs. Unbelted Passengers

1.​ What difference did you notice in the belted versus unbelted passenger?

Safety Applications
If you go bungee jumping, why is a rubber cord better than a chain?
-​ A bungee cord is much more flexible, stopping the person over a __________________. This
increases the ______ interval and reduces the _______ on the person. A chain does not extend,
increasing the _________ because the _______ interval to slow down is so _______.

-​ With the equation Δp = FΔt, a large F means small Δt. This is not safe. Increasing Δt makes F small,
which is much safer.

Impulse-Momentum Theorem Practice

1.​ When a dish falls, will the impulse (change in momentum) be less if it lands on a carpet than if it lands
on a hard floor?
 2.​ How much force is required to stop a 5 kg object moving 2 m/s in 1 second? How about in 0.1
seconds?

3.​ A car of mass 1100 kg is moving at 24 m/s. How much braking force is needed to stop the car in 10
seconds?

4.​ How long will it take to accelerate a 1200 kg car from 0 to 20 m/s if the engine supplies a force of
1600N?

Lesson 5.2: Bouncing, Conservation of Momentum, and Elastic Collisions (slides 21-38)
Warm-Up:
What factors affect how much an object’s momentum Which has the most momentum?
changes? A.​ 10 kg at 5 m/s
B.​ 100 kg at rest
C.​ 20 kg at 2 m/s
D.​ 5 kg at 50 m/s

Objectives: Students will be able to

1.​ Describe how momentum changes during a bouncing interaction and explain why bouncing objects
often experience a greater impulse than objects that simply stop.
2.​ Apply the law of conservation of momentum to predict the motion of objects before and after a collision.
3.​ Explain the characteristics of an elastic collision and solve problems in which both momentum and
kinetic energy are conserved.

Momentum and Impulse

1.​ Is the following sentence true or false? If the momentum of a single object changes, either the mass or
velocity or both change.

2.​ If a force increases on an object, what happens to the velocity and the momentum?

3.​ The change in momentum depends on the ______________ that acts and the length of __________
it acts.

4.​ What is the equation for impulse?

 5.​ What is the formula that relates impulse and change in momentum? Write it out!

6.​ Explain why a golfer should follow through with his or her swing.

7.​ Is the following sentence true or false? By hitting a soft object, such as a haystack, instead of a hard
object, such as a concrete wall, you will increase the time interval through which the object slows to a
stop.

Bouncing (Rebounding)
-​ The water wheels used in gold mining operations during the
California Gold Rush were not very effective. Lester A.
Pelton designed a curve-shaped paddle that caused the
incoming water to make a U-turn upon impact.
-​ The water bounced, increasing the _______ exerted
on the water wheel.

-​ Consider a 5 kg object moving at 2 m/s. The object it stops. What is the object’s change in
momentum?

-​ Now consider the object rebounding backwards to a velocity of 2 m/s in the other direction instead.
Now, what is the change in momentum?

-​ The impulse required to bring an object to a stop and then rebound is _____________ than the
impulse required merely to bring the object to a stop.

Conservation of Momentum
The ______________________________________________________ states that, in the absence of an
external force, the momentum of a system remains _______________.

-​ The force on the cannonball inside the cannon barrel is ________

and ____________ to the force causing the cannon to recoil. The
action and reaction forces are ______________ to the system so
they don’t change the momentum of the cannon-cannonball system.
-​ Before the firing, the momentum is ________.
-​ After the firing, the net momentum is still _________.
-​ Net momentum is neither ____________ nor _______.

-​ Most of the cannonball's momentum is in ______; most of the

recoiling cannon’s momentum is in ______. So mV=Mv.

-​ The momenta of the cannonball and the cannon are __________ in __________ and __________
in _____________ . Which one of Newton’s Laws of Motion mentions this same concept?
Collisions
-​ Whenever objects collide in the absence of external forces, the net momentum of the objects _______
the collision equals the net momentum of the objects _______ the collision.
-​ The collision of objects clearly shows the conservation of momentum.

-​
pi = pf
m1v1i + m2v2i = m1v1f + m2v2f

-​ This equation will take on three forms in our unit: elastic collisions, inelastic collisions, and
explosions.

Elastic Collisions
When objects collide without being permanently ____________ and without generating _____, the collision
is an elastic collision. This collision type is the only collision that conserves ________ energy. There is no loss
of energy to the surroundings.

Colliding objects bounce ___________ in perfect elastic collisions. The sum of the momentum vectors is the
same before and after each collision.

A.​ A moving ball strikes a ball

at rest.

B.​ Two moving balls collide

head-on.

C.​ Two balls moving in the

same direction collide.

1. A 2-kg ball moving 3 m/s collides 2. A 1000 kg car is moving at 20m/s. 3. A 2-kg ball moving 4 m/s
with a 2-kg ball at rest. Now the It hits a 50kg road sign, and the sign collides with a 2-kg ball moving
first ball is at rest. What is the flies forward at 30m/s. What is the towards it at 1 m/s. Now the first
velocity of the second ball? velocity of the car now? Assume no ball is moving back at 1 m/s. What
damage is done to their object. is the velocity of the second ball?

-​ Let’s apply these concepts to Lab Activity 5.1: Elastic Collisions (Part I and IV only)
-​ Work in pairs or individually.
-​ Read through the directions for Find the Lab, complete Part I: Measure the Carts and complete
the charts for Part IV: Compare the Elastic Case. Your conclusion from today’s lab should show
that momentum and kinetic energy are conserved for elastic collisions.
Lesson 5.3: Inelastic Collisions (slides 39-44)
Warm-Up:
A ball collides with a stationary identical ball in an True or false: Two objects of different mass are
elastic head-on collision. After the collision, which of moving at the same velocity; the more massive object
the following is true of the first ball? will have the lowest momentum.
A.​ It maintains its initial velocity.
B.​ It comes to rest.
C.​ It has one-half its initial velocity.
D.​ It moves in the opposite direction.

Objectives: Students will be able to

1.​ Describe the characteristics of an inelastic collision
2.​ Explain how kinetic energy is not fully conserved even though momentum is
3.​ Solve problems involving objects that stick together or deform during a collision.

Inelastic Collisions
-​ A collision in which the colliding objects become _____________- and generate _____ during the
collision is an inelastic collision.
-​ Momentum conservation holds true even in inelastic collisions.
-​ Whenever colliding objects become tangled or couple together, a ___________ inelastic collision
occurs. This entanglement releases energy to the surroundings in the form of _____ and ________,
therefore ____________________ is _____ conserved for inelastic collisions.

In an inelastic collision between two freight cars of

the same mass, the momentum of the freight car on
the left is shared with the freight car on the right
when they stick together after the collision. Doubled
the mass, halved the velocity.

Collision Calculations
The freight cars are of equal mass m, and one car moves at 4 m/s toward the other car that is at rest.
pinitial = pfinal
m1v1i + m2v2i = (m1 + m2)v2f

(m)(4 m/s) + (m)(0 m/s) = (2m)(vf)

Twice as much mass is moving after the collision, so the velocity, vf, must be one half of 4 m/s.

The initial momentum is shared by both cars without loss or gain, momentum is ____________!

External forces are usually negligible during the collision, so the net momentum does not change during
collision.
 1. A 5kg ball going 4m/s hits a 5kg 2. If an 800 kg car traveling at 3. A 40 kg football player going
ball at rest. The balls stick to each 13m/s gets rear ended by a 1200 through the air at 4 m/s tackles a
other. How fast are the balls kg truck moving 25 m/s, with what 60 kg player heading towards him
moving now? velocity will the two move if they at 3 m/s. What is the speed and
lock bumpers? direction of the entangled players?

Let’s apply these concepts to Lab Activity 5.2: Inelastic Collisions (Parts II, III, and V. Complete conclusion Part
VI as well).
Work in pairs or individually. Revisit the directions for Find the Lab. Your data for cart length and mass will
differ from the elastic collision tables, so be sure to remeasure and record in the data tables as needed.
Complete Part II: Determine the Cart’s Velocities (Inelastic Case), Part III: Calculating Momentum and
Kinetic Energy, Part V: The Partially Elastic Case, and Part VI: Draw Conclusions.
Your conclusion from today’s lab should continue to show that momentum is conserved for inelastic and
partially elastic collisions. The kinetic energy, however, is not conserved.

Lesson 5.4: Explosions (slides 45-48)

Warm-Up:
Which of the following situations most closely Two objects move separately after colliding, and both
resembles an inelastic collision? the total momentum and total kinetic energy remain
A.​ a tennis racquet striking a tennis ball constant. What type of collision is this?
B.​ a player kicking a soccer ball A.​ Elastic
C.​ a baseball being struck by a bat B.​ Inelastic
D.​ a linebacker tackling a running back C.​ nearly elastic
D.​ explosion

Objective: Students will be able to

1.​ How the law of conservation of momentum applies to explosions
2.​ Describe how internal forces cause objects to move apart
3.​ Solve problems in which a system breaks into two or more parts after an explosion.
Collisions: Explosions
Let’s revisit our cannon example:

We can see here that the combined momentum of the cannon and
cannon ball is initially zero since they are at rest. After an explosion,
the net momentum of the cannonball equals the opposite of the
cannon.

Example: A 65 kg fisherman on a boat shoots a 2-kg spear with a speed of 15 m/s at a fish. How fast does the
fisherman move backwards when the spear is shot?

Let’s apply these concepts to Lab Activity 5.2: Explosions

-​ Work in pairs or individually.
-​ You will be observing explosion collisions of two carts, one red and one blue. You will vary the masses
of each cart and record the resulting velocities of each cart in the table on your handout. Remember to
convert from cm to m! Additionally, record the velocity of each cart post-explosion. Consider to the left
to be negative direction, and to the right to be positive direction.
-​ Complete the entire handout in class, whatever is not completed will be assigned as homework.

Lesson 5.5: Air Track Collisions (Gliders)

Warm-Up:
1. How long will it take to accelerate a 1500kg car 2. A 100 kg halfback runs north and is tackled by a
from 0 to 40 m/s if the engine supplies a force of 130 kg opponent running south at 5 m/s. The collision
2500N? is perfectly inelastic. Just after the tackle, both players
move at a velocity of 3 m/s north. Calculate the
velocity of the 100 kg player just before the tackle.

Objectives: Students will be able to

1.​ Predict what happens to each mass after the collision.
2.​ Verify or amend your prediction with the observed outcome in class.
Lesson 5.6: Momentum Vectors, Collisions Review (slides 49-54)
Warm-Up:
1. Suppose that you're 2. Suppose that you're 3. Suppose that you're Suppose that you're
driving down the highway driving down the highway driving down the highway driving down the highway
and a fly crashes into the and a fly crashes into the and a fly crashes into the and a fly crashes into the
windshield of your car. windshield of your car. windshield of your car. windshield of your car.
Which undergoes the Which undergoes the Which undergoes the Which undergoes the
greater change is greater force? greater impulse? greater acceleration?
momentum?

Momentum Vectors
-​ The _________________ of the momenta is the same before and after a collision.
-​ Momentum is conserved even when interacting objects don’t move along the same straight line. To
analyze momentum in any direction, we use the __________ techniques we’ve previously learned.
-​ We’ll look at momentum conservation involving firecrackers.

-​ When the firecracker bursts, the vector sum of

the momenta of its fragments add up to the
fire cracker’s momentum just ________
explosion.
-​ A falling firecracker explodes into two pieces.
The momenta of the fragments combine by
vector rules to ________ the original
momentum of the falling firecracker.

Collision Review

Collision Type Elastic Inelastic Explosion

Diagram

Equation(s)

Is momentum
conserved?

Is kinetic energy
conserved?